Platerodini

BOCAK, L. & MATSUDA, K., 2003, Review of the immature stages of the family Lycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Journal of Natural History 37 (12), pp. 1463-1507 : 1485

Platerodini

Diagnosis. Terga tripartite, formed by small, strongly prolonged, oblong or quadrate mediotergite and two laterotergites (figure 71), precoxale fused to prosternum, abdominal segments A1–A8 with only one lateral pleurite (figure 72), A9 undivided, mostly simply rounded.

Remarks. All lycid larvae except Plateros have two free pleurites in segments A1–A8; upper pleurits bearing spiracle (figures 36). Miller (1997) in his description of Plateros floralis Melsheimer designated the closely attached dorsolateral sclerite laterotergite and considered the upper and lower pleurites to be fused (figure 72). It is also possible, that the lower pleurite was reduced. In both cases there are two independent steps hypothesized. The arrangement of tergites and pleurites described is unique for Plateros as understood by Bocakova (2001).

We found variability in the presence of eyes, tubercles on the surface of sclerites, and urogomphi. One group of species has abdominal sterna divided in two sclerites. These characters are described further.